Parents urged to return secondary school applications before 14 October deadline

Parents across the city are reminded that the closing date for applications for admission into Manchester secondary schools next autumn must be made by Friday 14 October 2011.

All parents of pupils currently in Year 6 at primary school should by now have received a letter giving them a unique pin number for their child to enable them to apply for a school place for their child on-line.

Parents have to apply for a secondary school place for their child by the strict deadline of 5 pm on Friday 14 October to give their child the best chance of getting a place at one of their preferred schools.

Parents are encouraged to make at least three preferences when they make their application, and to rank their preferred schools to show which of them would be their first, second, third preference etc, if places were available at those schools.

Manchester operates an equal preference system when considering school admission applications. This means that each of the school preferences given by a parent on their application form will be considered at the same time. If, as a result of this, the system shows that a place could be offered at more than one school, their child will be offered a place at the school ranked highest amongst those named on the application form by parents.

Councillor Afzal Khan, Executive Member, Children's Services, Manchester City Council, said: "Choosing a secondary school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. You will want a school where your child is happy and safe and achieves their best.

"Thanks to investment of around £500m in Manchester's secondary schools over the last five years, our pupils are now taught in some of the best buildings in the country with state of the art educational and sporting facilities.

"This investment means that the way children are taught and learn is being transformed at every city school.

"Combined with some of the best ever A level and GCSE results at our schools this year, demonstrating year on year improvement in results citywide, there has never been a better time to choose a Manchester school for your child."

Applications can also be made by post or in person. All applications must however be received by the deadline of 5 pm on Friday 14 October.

For more information and to make on-line applications visit www.manchester.gov.uk/admissions

Offers will be sent to parents/carers on Thursday 1 March 2012.

For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk